A woman with a childlike voice and astonishing height took advantage of the television boom in the United States to promote good cooking in a country that celebrates what would have been her 100th birthday. Julia Child, her name, did not discover her passion for cooking until she tried a sole Meunière in 1948. Child became a revelation that led her to become one of the first television cooks in the United States in the 60s, a master of French sophistication in a country that was just beginning to discover frozen foods and fast food. One hundred years after her birth in 1912 and eight years after her death in 2004, Americans have not lost their appetite for Child's recipes and vibrant personality, immortalized by Meryl Streep in the movie "Julie & Julia" (2009). Special menus in one hundred restaurants across the United States, a new biography, and a television retrospective are some of the activities marking the centenary of a woman whose first book, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," became an essential support for several generations. The kitchen of her home in Cambridge (Massachusetts), where she recorded her last television shows, is on display starting today at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, after eight months of renovation to expand the space of an attraction that keeps its visitors captivated by Julia's pots and programs. Under the glamorous appearance of her French recipes, Child sought to convey the importance of using fresh foods, with an attention to ingredient selection that, forty years later, has led to the organic food craze. But what truly made the audience in the 60s and 70s take note of her recipes was, according to her biographer Bob Spitz, her naturalness and her eternal willingness to laugh at herself.

Source: EFE and Telemetro

Gourmet Cooking Recipes

To help you experience and prepare some gourmet dishes at home and surprise your family, here are these delicious and easy recipes. (we recommend clicking on the recipe title for more details) Pasta with Prosciutto. This recipe is truly delicious and easy to make. The prosciutto and pecorino cheese give it a rich and gourmet flavor. You can find the ingredients at a supermarket or a gourmet store. Escargots a la Bourguignonne. This rich recipe is considered a gourmet dish in France. Escargots are snails that one can buy canned at gourmet stores, and this preparation is the most classic of all. Blinis with Caviar. An excellent appetizer/snack for your elegant dinners and meals. Gourmet Tuna Sandwich. These delicious tuna sandwiches are made with the rich combination of zucchini, ricotta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Caprese Panini. A Caprese salad made into a sandwich. A great option for a light yet gourmet dinner. Penne with Morels and Mushrooms. This exquisite pasta recipe with morels and mushrooms in a creamy sauce is very easy to prepare. For a gourmet touch, use truffle salt. Baked Eggs with Cream. If you love eggs but want to add variety, this recipe is a delicious and very gourmet way to prepare them! Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce. The Béarnaise sauce perfectly enhances the flavor of the filet mignon. Feijoada. Feijoada is a typical Brazilian dish made with different cuts of pork and black beans. Historically, this dish was made to make the most of the leftover pork, but today it is considered a gourmet delicacy. Camembert Cheese and Pear Salad. A delicious and healthy salad with a gourmet touch of camembert cheese and pear slices. Baked Figs with Walnut and Honey. A very rich and light gourmet recipe. Baked figs turn out delicious and even more so when accompanied by honey and walnuts.  

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